This Sparkling Cardamom and Pear Cocktail is fabulously fancy, but so simple! Pear liqueur, gin, cardamom syrup, and sparkling pear cider come together to make a sweet and aromatic cocktail.
Cardamom Lovers, Unite
Cardamom has a cult-like following. I know, I know. It sounds as though I’m talking about some super exclusive skin care product. But I’m not! I’m talking about the complex, potent, and aromatic little spice, cardamom.
Let's Talk About Cardamom
Used frequently in Nordic, Indian, and Middle Eastern cuisine, this humble little spice packs a serious punch. It has a heavy and distinct aroma, often described as minty, lemony, and potent. Sweden uses the spice in both sweet and savory dishes, with baked goods serving as the aforementioned “cult-like” following. Cardamom is often used in classic sweet spice mixes alongside cinnamon star anise, and cloves.
Making A Sparkling Cardamom and Pear Cocktail
This cocktail highlights a famous flavor combination: cardamom and pear. Pear’s juicy flavor stands up nicely to cardamom, which is featured in this drink through a simple syrup. I use simple syrup in a number of my cocktails, and its name couldn’t be more apt:
Equal parts sugar and water are combined over low heat until the sugar dissolves. That’s it! I like flavoring my simple syrups in a number of different ways, and here, of course, we’re using cardamom.
Gin works nicely in this cocktail as it too has a distinct aromatic appeal. Opt for a London Dry, Plymouth, or floral style gin. An Old Tom or Nay Strength gin may be too overpowering for this one.
Sparkling Cardamom and Pear Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 oz gin, see article for suggestions on gin style
- 1/2 oz cardamom simple syrup, recipe below
- 1/4 oz pear liqueur
- 2 oz sparkling pear cider
For the cardamom simple syrup:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 6 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
Instructions
- In an ice filled cocktail shaker, combine gin, cardamom simple syrup, and pear liqueur. Shake vigorously until combined.
- Strain in a martini glass and top with sparkling pear cider.
- Remove a 1/4 inch wide and 1-2 inch long piece of lemon peel. Over the glass, twist the peel, dragging it gently around the rim of the glass. Place twist in glass and garnish with pear slice.
For the cardamom simple syrup:
- In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water over medium low heat. Swirl gently until suagr dissvoles. Remove from flame.
- Add cardamom pods to pan, allowing mixture to cool at least 30 minutes. Trasnfer liquid to a small jar to store in refrigerator. You can choose to leave the cardamom pods in the mixture as you store it, this will intensify the cardamom flavor.